Kirkwall Walks with Graham

03/09/2023

Kirkwall walks may go viral in Brazil!! Rebecca is an "influencer" with a massive following..you can't make this up!!

02/09/2023

Today marked another milestone for my peedie tours- my first guests from Brazil! They were so much fun and were really complimentary about kirkwall. Thanks to Erin, one of my pupils, for taking the photo and sharing her baguette with her ravenous teacher!

28/08/2023

I've never seen anyone so pleased to be taken to a byre..! I better explain. Bob, from Australia, came on a tour yesterday during which he mentioned that he is related to Louttits on his mother's side, who were originally from Rendall. Curious, I did a bit of digging when I got home, and to cut a long story short, discovered his family tree and where his great,great,great,great grandfather, Magnus Louttit, stayed in Rendall (Hinderayre farm)! He died in 1882. So here we are paying a visit to the ancestral home- the old house is now a byre. Bob's sister came along too, and it was a special moment for everyone. Thank you to the current home owner who showed us around.

20/08/2023

Legend has it that a ghost piper walks along a secret tunnel between Bishop's palace and the cathedral grounds-this explains why you may have seen me cupping my ear to the road in front of a bemused looking tour group today! (thought I heard something but can't be sure..) But what a tour..lovely folk, great banter, the sun was shining, and I even got a peedie round of applause at the end!!

11/08/2023

Graham and his peedie apprentice are over the moon as we have reached our fundraising target of £1000 this week! Big thank you to our 2 guests from Germany today and everyone else for their amazing generosity- your support means a lot to everyone at the OARC.

28/07/2023

Just finished a fun tour with this family from near Dusseldorf in Germany. They were delighted to meet the latest addition to the tour, "Dolly Parton"..!

09/07/2023

So I'm not doing tours this week as I'm in Guernsey supporting these amazing athletes! Come on orkney!

06/07/2023

One last tour before leaving for Guernsey tonight! These lovely folk are from Vancouver and I've just finished telling them stories about punishments handed out to people at the cross! I'm 83% of my way towards meeting my peedie fundraising target so if you ken of anyone who might want to do a tour let them know so I can get over the line..

23/06/2023

Deborah from Ontario was thrilled to meet Hector the hedgehog this evening! The intriguing story of Hector's ancestors and their war against the slugs of Berstane road, Kirkwall is the stuff of legend...curious? Book a tour to hear the full story..

19/06/2023

Rounded off a fun tour with Terry and Sue from Florida by taking them to see the Groattie Buckie hoose. My personal highlight was chatting to Terry about the civil rights era and his experiences growing up in North Carolina in the 1960s where segregation was a way of life.

08/05/2023

Great fun showing these 4 lasses from Quebec around the toon today. Tonight's conversation on the liner, Norwegian Dawn, might go something like this: Lady 1: " Did that crazy guide really sing "We'll meet again" by Vera Lynn, or did I just imagine that?; Lady 2:
" No he did, he really did. Incredible!"; Lady 3: " I wanted to say STOP, but did you see his axe?"

06/05/2023

Unlikely, I know, but if my wife happens to ask if you have seen her missing red mop handle, just say no..! ( Between you and me, I am using it as a "timeline" to highlight Kirkwall's history, from Viking times to the present day..yellow tape=viking era; blue=scotland; red=UK) Thanks in advance for "sticking" up for me

17/04/2023

Dry-stane d**e building is one of my passions and I couldn't resist doing a peedie bit of work on a d**e in Harray on the way home from work today! Passers by thought I was 'stone-mad'..I'm in awe of the stone masons who built St Magnus Cathedral- each stonemason had their own special mark, which was carved onto all the pieces of stone they worked with. Showing folk around the cathedral has been such a privilege.

15/04/2023

My guests from Kent were excited to see their first "blackening" today! Here I am with bride-to-be, Inga Cooper, a former pupil of mine, at the Mercat Cross! Great fun!

31/03/2023

Dugald proved to be an excellent prop for one of my favourite tales about the drunken ducks of Laing St, Kirkwall! I am pleased to say todays guests from County Down had a "quaking" time..

25/03/2023

Great first tour today- lovely group of folk and peedie "Napoleon" did a brilliant job helping Dad!! Thanks to all my guests for their kind donations and lovely feedback.

24/03/2023

Are you free Sat morning, 10.30? I have been rehearsing my lines along the street but folk have been giving me strange looks as I mutter to myself and stop to stare at walls..I would be grateful if you could come along so that I can try out my walking tour! If you can, "LIKE" this post, and meet me at the pier head at 10.20am Sat. Thank you

17/03/2023

My new leaflet 'hot off the press'!

15/03/2023

Message me if you are interested in booking a tour on Kirkwall Walks with Graham!

12/03/2023

Boys playing golf in the street, somewhere in Kirkwall. c.1900

12/03/2023

As a teacher, I have found researching life in schools really interesting! I can't wait to share some of the more quirky discoveries!

04/03/2023

Key information: Tours available: Sat/Sun. (Mon-Fri evenings possible by arrangement)
Depart from the harbour and finish at St Magnus Cathedral, taking approx 1.5 hr.
Group numbers up to 10
An online donation to Orkney Athletics Club and Running club can be made using Justgiving at end of tour: (suggested donation £20); can accept cash.
Tours are in English
Enquire through messenger

04/03/2023

All donations from Kirkwall Walks with Graham will go directly to Orkney Athletics and Running Club.😀

04/03/2023